Muhammad of Khorasan
Encyclopedia
Muhammad bin Tahir was last the Tahirid governor of Khurasan
, from 862 until 873.
died in 862, the caliph
wanted to replace him with Muhammad b. 'Abd-Allah, but after the latter refused he appointed Muhammad as governor. The caliph however did not grant Muhammad other titles usually reserved for the Tahirid governor of Khurasan, such as the military governorship of Iraq
and Baghdad
, but instead gave them to Muhammad b. 'Abd-Allah.
When he became governor, Muhammad was still young and rather inexperienced. Only two years after he succeeded his father, Tabaristan was lost to a Zaidi revolt and the Tahirids were unable to recover the province. In 867 the Saffarid amir of Sistan
, Ya'qub bin Laith
, took Herat
and imprisoned its Tahirid governor. An army was dispatched under the Samanid
Ibrahim ibn Ilyas
to stop Ya'qub, but was defeated, after which Muhammad was forced to come to terms. During this time Muhammad also tried to gain the offices in the West that had been given to Muhammad b. 'Abd-Allah. After the latter died in 867 his brother 'Ubaydallah b. 'Abd-Allah had taken over the offices. In opposition to 'Ubaydallah, Muhammad sent his uncle Sulayman b. 'Abd-Allah as his representative in Iraq, and Sulayman was able to gain the posts at the expense of 'Ubaydallah, although he would eventually lose them.
The weakness of Muhammad b. Tahir's rule in Khurasan would eventually lead to the end of Tahirid rule there. In 873 the Saffarid Ya'qub marched on Muhammad's capital, Nishapur
. Muhammad refused to flee and was captured by the Saffarids. For three years he remained in captivity, but was freed by caliphal forces after the Saffarids were defeated at the Battle of Dair al-'Aqul
in 876. After he was freed the caliph reinvested him with the governorship of Khurasan, although Muhammad never asserted his authority there. Several anti-Saffarid partisans in Khurasan, such as Ahmad al-Khujistani and Rafi' ibn Laith, placed Muhammad's name in the khutba
in areas they managed to control, but Muhammad never exercised any actual authority over them.
. Amr reached an agreement with the caliph and was invested with Khurasan, replacing Muhammad. As the governor of Khurasan, Amr now asserted the rights formally held by the Tahirids to nominate his representative for the offices in the West; his choice fell on 'Ubadydallah. Amr also used his influence to have Muhammad arrested for allegedly supporting Khujistani, although there was little evidence to support this.
Muhammad regained caliphal favor when the peace between the caliphate and the Saffarids fell out in around 884. He was made governor of Baghdad in place of 'Ubaydallah and regained the title of governor of Khurasan, though as before he was never able to reestablish his rule in that province. He died sometime around 890.
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
, from 862 until 873.
Governor of Khurasan
When Muhammad's father Tahir bin 'Abd-AllahTahir II of Khorasan
Tahir bin 'Abd-Allah was the Tahirid governor of Khurasan from 845 until 862.During his father 'Abd-Allah's lifetime, Tahir was sent into the steppes to the north in order to keep the Oghuz Turks in line; he probably received Samanid assistance in this venture. When 'Abd-Allah died in 844, the...
died in 862, the caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
wanted to replace him with Muhammad b. 'Abd-Allah, but after the latter refused he appointed Muhammad as governor. The caliph however did not grant Muhammad other titles usually reserved for the Tahirid governor of Khurasan, such as the military governorship of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, but instead gave them to Muhammad b. 'Abd-Allah.
When he became governor, Muhammad was still young and rather inexperienced. Only two years after he succeeded his father, Tabaristan was lost to a Zaidi revolt and the Tahirids were unable to recover the province. In 867 the Saffarid amir of Sistan
Sistan
Sīstān is a border region in eastern Iran , southwestern Afghanistan and northern tip of Southwestern Pakistan .-Etymology:...
, Ya'qub bin Laith
Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar
Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar or Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari was the founder of the Saffarid dynasty in Sistan, with its capital at Zaranj . He ruled territories that are now in Iran and Afghanistan, as well as portions of West Pakistan...
, took Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
and imprisoned its Tahirid governor. An army was dispatched under the Samanid
Samanid
The Samani dynasty , also known as the Samanid Empire, or simply Samanids was a Persian state and empire in Central Asia and Greater Iran, named after its founder Saman Khuda, who converted to Sunni Islam despite being from Zoroastrian theocratic nobility...
Ibrahim ibn Ilyas
Ibrahim ibn Ilyas
Ibrahim ibn Ilyas was a Samanid ruler of Herat . He was the son of Ilyas.Upon his father's death in 856, Ibrahim was given control of the city of Herat. He afterwards became a military leader for the Tahirid governor of Khurasan, Muhammad ibn Tahir. Ibrahim was sent by Muhammad to battle the...
to stop Ya'qub, but was defeated, after which Muhammad was forced to come to terms. During this time Muhammad also tried to gain the offices in the West that had been given to Muhammad b. 'Abd-Allah. After the latter died in 867 his brother 'Ubaydallah b. 'Abd-Allah had taken over the offices. In opposition to 'Ubaydallah, Muhammad sent his uncle Sulayman b. 'Abd-Allah as his representative in Iraq, and Sulayman was able to gain the posts at the expense of 'Ubaydallah, although he would eventually lose them.
The weakness of Muhammad b. Tahir's rule in Khurasan would eventually lead to the end of Tahirid rule there. In 873 the Saffarid Ya'qub marched on Muhammad's capital, Nishapur
Nishapur
Nishapur or Nishabur , is a city in the Razavi Khorasan province in northeastern Iran, situated in a fertile plain at the foot of the Binalud Mountains, near the regional capital of Mashhad...
. Muhammad refused to flee and was captured by the Saffarids. For three years he remained in captivity, but was freed by caliphal forces after the Saffarids were defeated at the Battle of Dair al-'Aqul
Battle of Dair al-'Aqul
The Battle of Dayr al-`Aqul was fought on April 8, 876 between forces of the Saffarid amir Ya`qub bin Laith and the Abbasid Caliphate. Taking place some 80 km southeast of Baghdad, the battle ended in a decisive victory for the Abbasids, forcing Ya`qub to halt his advance into Iraq.The town of ...
in 876. After he was freed the caliph reinvested him with the governorship of Khurasan, although Muhammad never asserted his authority there. Several anti-Saffarid partisans in Khurasan, such as Ahmad al-Khujistani and Rafi' ibn Laith, placed Muhammad's name in the khutba
Khutba
Khutbah serves as the primary formal occasion for public preaching in the Islamic tradition.Such sermons occur regularly, as prescribed by the teachings of all legal schools. The Islamic tradition can be formally at the dhuhr congregation prayer on Friday...
in areas they managed to control, but Muhammad never exercised any actual authority over them.
Later life
After being freed by the caliph Muhammad took up residence in Baghdad and from there attempted to gain the offices held by 'Ubaydallah b. 'Abd-Allah. This conflict between the two Tahirids would continue for several years. In 879 the Saffarid Ya'qub died and was succeeded by his brother Amr bin LaithAmr bin Laith
Amr-i Laith Saffari was the second ruler of the Saffarid dynasty of Iran who ruled .In the beginning he was a mule-hirer. He was Yaqub bin Laith as-Saffar's younger brother who fought alongside his older brother and in 875 became Governor of Herat....
. Amr reached an agreement with the caliph and was invested with Khurasan, replacing Muhammad. As the governor of Khurasan, Amr now asserted the rights formally held by the Tahirids to nominate his representative for the offices in the West; his choice fell on 'Ubadydallah. Amr also used his influence to have Muhammad arrested for allegedly supporting Khujistani, although there was little evidence to support this.
Muhammad regained caliphal favor when the peace between the caliphate and the Saffarids fell out in around 884. He was made governor of Baghdad in place of 'Ubaydallah and regained the title of governor of Khurasan, though as before he was never able to reestablish his rule in that province. He died sometime around 890.
Sources
- Bosworth, C.E. The History of the Saffarids of Sistan and the Maliks of Nimruz (247/861 to 949/1542-3). Costa MesaCosta Mesa, CaliforniaCosta Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
: Mazda Publishers, 1994. - Bosworth, C. E. "The Tahirids and Saffarids". The Cambridge History of Iran Volume 4: From the Arab Invasion to the Saljuqs. R. N. Frye. London, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1975. ISBN 0-521-20093-8